Device for simulating position of the saddle and handlebar assembly of the bicycle

ABSTRACT

The invention is a bicycle fitting machine. It is an apparatus that can simulate almost any position of the bicycle saddle and handlebar assembly with the reference to the Bottom Bracket centre (FIG.  1—4 ) as a starting 0/0 position. 
     The saddle (FIG.  1—1 ) and handle bar assembly (FIG.  1—2 ) can be moved independently with respect to the bottom bracket. The obtained position of the saddle and handlebar position can be easily recorded for future adjustments of the machine, by means of Horizontal (X) Scales (FIG.  1—3 ) on the Seat Slider (FIG.  1—5 ) and Handlebar Slider (FIG.  1—6 ) and by means of Vertical (Y) scale (FIG.  1—7 ) on the Seat Tube (FIG.  1—8 ) and Handlebar Tube (FIG.  1—9 ) vertical scale (FIG.  1—10 ). The obtained measurements are of use in the design and fit of a bicycle to a particular individual.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a Fitting Machines and/or stationary exercisebicycles that are used in specialized bicycle shops for the purpose ofsimulating position of the rider on the bicycle, (either with power loadgenerator or without). Such machines have movable parts attached to eachother in some correlation to the Bottom Bracket thus creating/simulatingthe most desirable/proper position for the rider. Findings/results ofsuch tests are used to set-up geometry of a real bike for each specificrider.

2. Description of Prior Art

Presently there are number of Fit Machines available on the market, allof them using rotating seat tube (around BB centre) for the adjustmentof the Seat Tube Angle. Seat Tube angle is angle of the centre line ofthe Seat Tube, measured from the horizontal line drowns from the BBcentre. Such rotating movement has the undesired byproduct of alsorotating the saddle, which is attached to the rotating tube, around theBB Centre. This creates unnecessary work for the operator to adjust thesaddle back to a perfect horizontal position after any change of theSeat Tube angle. The saddle horizontal, leveled position is a crucialpart of the fitting process and must be maintained at all times, forcorrect fit and a future frame design. In process of adjusting thesaddle back in a horizontal position, the saddle has to be unbolted fromits holder, realigned, and re-bolted to the holder. Adjusting a saddletilt also creates additional task—to note the position of the saddle onthe holder after every seat tube angle adjustment. Present machines alsoutilize only one round seat tube, what also incorporate telescopicsliding seat holding part, and in any extending or contracting of saddledistance from the BB, saddle assembly needs to be aligned to thevertical plane of the machine.

Further more, eventhough the distance from the BB to the top of thesaddle can be measured, actual horizontal distance of the saddle to thebottom bracket remains unknown, as there is no measuring device on suchmachines what would clearly determine saddle position in X and Y planerelative to the BB.

Present machines also usually don't have any kind of measuring devicesor marks for Handlebar assembly positioning/reading in correlation tothe BB, but rather tape or long ruler must be used to measuretwo-dimensional position, what creates impossibility to recreate thesame position, or organize a drawing, as one of those parameters aremissing, not measurable or have to be approximated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is a machine that allows completely independentadjustment of all aspects of the bicycle fit seat tube angle, saddleangle and position, and handlebar position, relative to the BB centre.An adjustment of any of these does not result in the need to makecompensatory adjustments in any other.

Furthermore, the absolute position of each of the adjustable componentsis measurable with a ruled scale imprinted on the machine. Thisimprovement on the state of the art allows for more rapid and accuratefit of the rider to the bicycle. As a saddle only slides horizontally itis keeping perfect horizontal position, same as the first time when ispositioned on the cradle. No adjustment of the saddle tilt is evernecessary, regardless how many times saddle changes its Seat Angle. Asthe saddle moves vertically on two telescopic tubes (rather than justone, on Present Art) there is no possibility of spinning of the saddleassembly around the tube and that completely reduce a need for saddlealignment to the vertical plane (Line from front to rear wheel) of thebike. In addition, the telescoping double bars enhance stability ofsaddle which is important for fitting riders while pedaling under load.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

Machine frame (FIG. 1—12) is of welded tubular structure, with a pair ofvertical tubing, Frame Head Tubes (FIG. 1—17) and Seat Tubes (FIG.1—18), connected together with a bracing tubing. Through vertical pairof frame head tubes (FIG. 1—17) telescopically slides pair of handlebartubing (FIG. 1—9) what are connected on the top with handlebar assemblyslide (FIG. 1—13). On the slide is attached handlebar assembly (FIG.1—16) Through vertical pair of frame seat tubes (FIG. 1—18)telescopically slides pair of seat tubing (FIG. 1—14) what are connectedon the top with horizontal slide (FIG. 1—5). On the slide is attachedsaddle cradle (FIG. 1—15) holding a saddle (FIG. 1—1). Bottom bracket ofthe frame (FIG. 1—4) is welded to the main frame and holds normalbicycle cranks (FIG. 1—11), what are connected by chain (FIG. 1—19) tothe rear bicycle wheel (FIG. 1—20)

FIG. 2

Reading of saddle and handlebar position is possible in X/Y—Absolutecoordinate system. Saddle horizontal position (FIG. 2 S-X) is determinedby finding reading on horizontal scale (FIG. 1—3) and saddle verticaldistance (FIG. 2 S-Y) is determined by finding reading on vertical scale(FIG. 1—16).

Same is for handlebar assembly, horizontal position (FIG. 2 HB-X) isdetermined by finding reading on horizontal scale (FIG. 1—6) andvertical distance (FIG. 2 HB-Y) is determined by finding reading onvertical scale (FIG. 1—10).

1. A bicycle fitting machine, comprising a saddle (FIG. 1—1), handlebar assembly (FIG. 1—2) and pedal assembly (FIG. 1—11), the saddle being independently adjustable in one or more directions with respect to the bottom bracket position so that any adjustment of the saddle in any one direction does not affect any other adjustment parameter of the saddle.
 2. A fitting machine as in claim 1, where the saddle position adjustments, with respect to the bottom bracket, do not affect the tilt or rotation of the saddle.
 3. A bicycle fitting machine as in claim 2, the saddle being independently adjustable in the forward/backward and up/down positions.
 4. A bicycle fitting machine as in claim 1, the saddle being independently adjustable in the angle around the bottom bracket, the tilt angle of the saddle from horizontal being unchanged in this process.
 5. A fitting machine as in claim 1, with handlebar adjustment independent of saddle adjustment position, with respect to the bottom bracket position.
 6. A fitting machine as in claim 1, with handlebar adjustment in up/down and forward/backward positions with respect to the bottom bracket position, and independent of the saddle position.
 7. A fitting machine as in claim 1, with one or more integrated measurement devices to measure the positioning of the saddle or the handlebar assembly with respect to a reference point.
 8. A fitting machine as in claim 1, with one or more integrated measurement devices to measure the positioning of the saddle or the handlebar assembly with respect to the bottom bracket in a coordinate system including, but not limited to, an X/Y coordinate system where one coordinate is vertical and one is horizontal.
 9. A fitting machine as in claim 1, with one or more ruled scales as integrated measurement devices to measure the positioning of the saddle or the handlebar assembly with respect to the bottom bracket.
 10. A fitting machine as in claim 1, with integrated measurement devices to measure the positioning of the saddle or the handlebar assembly in a coordinate system different from the adjustment directions of the saddle or the handlebars if they are also adjustable.
 11. A fitting machine as in claim 1, where the saddle is mounted on a pair of vertical telescopic parallel tubes or rods which enable adjustment of the saddle in the vertical direction, and a horizontal sliding assembly allowing adjustment of the saddle in the horizontal direction.
 12. A fitting machine as in claim 1, additionally comprising: 12-a. a stationary frame (FIG. 1—F) assembly having a pair of telescopic parallel vertical tubes (FIG. 1—12) connected on the top by means of horizontal plate (FIG. 1—13) carrying handlebars (FIG. 1—2), and a pair of telescopic parallel vertical tubes (FIG. 1—14) connected on the top with horizontal plate (FIG. 1—5) carrying the saddle (FIG. 1—1). 12-b. horizontal sliding cradles for both saddle (FIG. 1—15) and handlebar FIG. 1—16) positioning; 12-c. horizontal scales printed on the Sliders (FIG. 1—6, 3) and vertical scales (FIG. 1—7, 10) printed on the Tubes, in correlation to the Bottom Bracket (FIG. 1—4) centre as an X/Y 0/0 point, vertical and horizontal scales being perpendicular to each other, thus creating an XY plane.
 13. A bicycle fitting machine, comprising a saddle, handlebar assembly and pedal assembly, the handlebar assembly being independently adjustable with respect to the bottom bracket position without adjusting the rotation of the handlebars.
 14. A fitting machine as in claim 13, where the handlebar adjustments, with respect to the bottom bracket or the saddle, do not affect the rotation of the handlebars.
 15. A fitting machine as in claim 14, the handlebar assembly being independently adjustable in the forward/backward and up/down positions.
 16. A fitting machine as in claim 13, the saddle being independently adjustable with respect to the handlebar assembly position and with respect to the bottom bracket position.
 17. A fitting machine as in claim 13, with one or more integrated measurement devices to measure the positioning of the handlebars or the saddle with respect to a reference point.
 18. A fitting machine as in claim 13, where the handlebars are mounted on a pair of vertical telescopic parallel tubes or rods which enable adjustment of the handlebars in the vertical direction, and a horizontal sliding assembly allowing adjustment of the handlebars in the horizontal direction.
 19. A fitting machine as in claim 13, additionally comprising: 19-a. a stationary frame assembly having a pair of telescopic parallel vertical tubes connected on the top by means of horizontal plate carrying handlebars and a pair of telescopic parallel vertical tubes connected on the top with horizontal plate carrying the saddle; 19-b. horizontal sliding cradles for both saddle and handlebar positioning; 19-c. horizontal scales printed on the Sliders and vertical scales printed on the Tubes, in correlation to the Bottom Bracket centre as an X/Y 0/0 point, vertical and horizontal scales being perpendicular to each other, thus creating an XY plane.
 20. A bicycle fitting machine, comprising a saddle, handlebar assembly and pedal assembly, with integrated measurement devices for measuring the positions of the saddle and/or the handlebar assembly.
 21. A fitting machine as in claim 20, where the attached measurement devices are scales or tape measures either ruled into the material of the machine itself, or physically attached to the machine.
 22. A fitting machine as in claim 20, where the saddle and handlebars are independently adjustable with respect to the bottom bracket position.
 23. A fitting machine as in claim 20, where the saddle is adjustable in one or more directions with respect to the bottom bracket position so that any adjustment of the saddle in any one direction does not affect any other adjustment parameter of the saddle and does not affect the tilt of the saddle.
 24. A fitting machine as in claim 20, additionally comprising: 24-a. a stationary frame (FIG. 1—12) assembly having a pair of telescopic parallel vertical tubes connected on the top by means of horizontal plate carrying handlebars, and a pair of telescopic parallel vertical tubes connected on the top with horizontal plate carrying the saddle; 24-b. horizontal sliding cradles for both saddle and handlebar positioning; 24-c. horizontal scales printed on the Sliders and vertical scales printed on the Tubes, in correlation to the Bottom Bracket centre as an X/Y 0/0 point, vertical and horizontal scales being perpendicular to each other, thus creating an XY plane. 